Avianca Brasil cancels more than 1,300 flights - local media

Published Sat, Apr 20 2019 4:41 PM EDT

BRASILIA, April 20 (Reuters) - Avianca Brasil has canceled more than 1,300 flights, Brazilian media reported on Saturday, as the bankrupt airline was forced to reduce its fleet by more than two-thirds.

The cancellations, for April 19-28, are nationwide, with airports in Brasilia, Guarulhos in Sao Paulo, and Galeao in Rio de Janeiro, the hardest hit, O Estado de Sao Paulo reported.

Avianca, which filed for bankruptcy protection in December, has to return 18 leased planes after Easter, Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency said on Thursday, reducing its fleet to just eight aircraft.

Earlier this month, the airline had 35 planes. (Reporting by Jamie McGeever; Editing by Richard Chang)